1

Chapter 3 – Introduction to Visual Basic

Programming
Outline
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Simple Program: Printing a Line of Text
3.3 Another Simple Program: Adding Integers
3.4 Memory Concepts
3.5 Arithmetic
3.6 Decision Making: Equality and Relational Operators
3.7 Using a Dialog to Display a Message

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3.1 Introduction

• In this chapter we introduce

– Visual Basic programming
• We present examples that illustrate several important features
of the language
– Console applications
• Applications that contain only text output
• Output is displayed in a command window

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3.2 Simple Program: Printing a Line of Text

• Simple program that displays a line of text

• When the program is run
– output appears in a command window
• It illustrates important Visual Basic features
– Comments
– Modules
– Sub procedures

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1 ' Fig. 3.1: Welcome1.vb
Visual Basic console
Outline
2 ' Simple Visual Basic program.
3 applications consist of pieces
4 Module modFirstWelcome called modules
5 Single-quote character (') Welcome1.vb
6 Sub Main() indicates that the remainder
7 Console.WriteLine("Welcome to Visual Basic!")
8 End Sub ' Main of the line is a comment
9
10 End Module ' modFirstWelcome The Main procedure is the entry
The Console.WriteLine
point of the program. It is present
statement
in all console applicationsdisplays text output
Welcome to Visual Basic! to the console Program Output

•A few Good Programming Practices

– Comments
• Every program should begin with one or more comments
– Modules
• Begin each module with mod to make modules easier to identify

– Procedures
• Indent the entire body of each procedure definition one “level” of
indentation
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 5

3.2 Simple Program: Printing a Line of Text

• Now a short step-by-step explanation of how to

create and run this program using the features of
Visual Studio .NET IDE…

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3.2 Simple Program: Printing a Line of Text

1. Create the console application

– Select File > New > Project…
– In the left pane, select Visual Basic Projects
– In the right pane, select Console Application
– Name the project Welcome1
– Specify the desired location
2. Change the name of the program file
– Click Module1.vb in the Solution Explorer window
– In the Properties window, change the File Name property
to Welcome1.vb

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3.2 Simple Program: Printing a Line of Text

Left pane Right pane

Project
name

File
location

Fig. 3.2 Creating a Console Application with the New Project dialog.

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3.2 Simple Program: Printing a Line of Text

Editor window (containing
program code)

Fig. 3.3 IDE with an open console application.

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3.2 Simple Program: Printing a Line of Text

Solution Explorer

Click Module1.vb to
display its properties

Properties window

File Name
property

Fig. 3.4 Renaming the program file in the Properties window.

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3.2 Simple Program: Printing a Line of Text

3. Change the name of the module

– Module names must be modified in the editor window
– Replace the identifier Module1 with
modFirstWelcome
4. Writing code
– Type the code contained in line 7 of Fig. 3.1 between Sub
Main() and End Sub
• Note that after typing the class name and the dot operator the
IntelliSense is displayed. It lists a class’s members.
• Note that when typing the text between the parenthesis
(parameter), the Parameter Info and Parameter List windows
are displayed

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3.2 Simple Program: Printing a Line of Text

5. Run the program

– To compile, select Build > Build Solution
• This creates a new file, named Welcome1.exe
– To run, select Debug > Start Without Debugging

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3.2 Simple Program: Printing a Line of Text

Partially-typed member Member list

Description of
highlighted member

Fig. 3.5 IntelliSense feature of the Visual Studio .NET IDE.

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3.2 Simple Program: Printing a Line of Text

Up arrow Down arrow

Parameter List window

Parameter Info window

Fig. 3.6 Parameter Info and Parameter List windows.

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3.2 Simple Program: Printing a Line of Text

Command window prompts the user to

press a key after the program terminates

Fig. 3.7 Executing the program shown in Fig. 3.1.

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3.2 Simple Program: Printing a Line of Text

Omitted parenthesis character (syntax
error)

Blue underline
indicates a syntax
error

Task List window

Error description(s)

Fig. 3.8 IDE indicating a syntax error.

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1 ' Fig. 3.9: Welcome2.vb Outline
2 Method Write
' Writing line of text with multiple does not
statements. position the output
3
4 Module modSecondWelcome
cursor at the beginning of the next line
5 Welcome2.vb
6 Sub Main()
7 Console.Write("Welcome to ")
8 Console.WriteLine("Visual Basic!")
9 End Sub ' Main
11 Method WriteLine positions the output
12 End Module ' modSecondWelcome
cursor at the beginning of the next line

Welcome to Visual Basic!

Program Output

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 17

3.3 Another Simple Program: Adding Integers

• User input two integers

– Whole numbers
• Program computes the sum
• Display result

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1 ' Fig. 3.10: Addition.vb Outline
2 ' Addition program.
3 These variables store strings of characters
4 Module modAddition
5 Addition.vb
6 Sub Main() Declarations begin with keyword Dim
7
8 ' variables for storing user input
9 Dim firstNumber, secondNumber As String
10
11 ' variables used in addition calculationFirst value entered by user is assigned
12 Dim number1, number2, sumOfNumbers As to variable firstNumber
Integer
13
14 ' read first number from user
15 Console.Write("Please enter the first integer: ")
16 firstNumber = Console.ReadLine()
17 These variables store integers values
18 ' read second number from user
Method ReadLine causes program
19 Console.Write("Please enter the second integer:to pause
") and wait for user input
20 secondNumber = Console.ReadLine()
21
22 ' convert input values to Integers
23 number1 = firstNumber
24 number2 = secondNumber Implicit conversion from String to
25 Integer
26 sumOfNumbers = number1 + number2 ' add numbers
27
28 ' display results
29 Sums integers and assigns result to
Console.WriteLine("The sum is {0}", sumOfNumbers)
30 variable sumOfNumbers
31 End Sub ' Main
32
33 End Module ' modAddition
Format indicates that the argument
after the string will be evaluated and
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Please enter the first integer: 45 Outline
Please enter the second integer: 72
The sum is 117
Addition.vb

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3.3 Another Simple Program: Adding Integers

If the user types a non-integer value, such

as “hello,” a run-time error occurs

Fig. 3.11 Dialog displaying a run-time error.

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3.4 Memory Concepts

• Variables
– correspond to actual locations in the computer’s memory
– Every variable has a
• Name
• Type
• Size
• value
– A value placed in a memory location replaces the value
previously stored
• The previous value is destroyed
– When value is read from a memory location, it is not
destroyed

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3.4 Memory Concepts

number1 45

Fig. 3.12 Memory location showing name and value of variable number1.

number1 45

number2 45

Fig. 3.13 Memory locations after values for variables number1 and number2 have been input.

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3.5 Arithmetic

• Arithmetic operators
– Visual Basic use various special symbols not used in algebra
• Asterisk (*), keyword Mod
– Binary operators
• Operates using two operands
– sum + value
– Unary operators
• Operators that take only one operand
– +9, -19

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 24

3.5 Arithmetic

45
number1
45
number2

sumOfNumbers 45

Fig. 3.14 Memory locations after an addition operation.

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3.5 Arithmetic

• Integer division
– Uses the backslash, \
– 7 \ 4 evaluates to 1
• Floating-point division
– Uses the forward slash, /
– 7 / 4 evaluates to 1.75
• Modulus operator, Mod
– Yields the remainder after Integer division
– 7 Mod 4 yields 3

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3.5 Arithmetic

Visua l Ba sic o p e ra tio n Arithm e tic o p e ra to r Alg e b ra ic e xp re ssio n Visua l Ba sic

e xp re ssio n
Addition + f+7 f + 7
Subtraction – p–c p - c
Multiplication * bm b * m
Division (float) / x / y or <Anchor10> or x / y

xy
Division (Integer) \ none v \ u
Modulus % r mod s r Mod s
qp
q
Exponentiation ^ ^p

Unary Negative - –e –e
Unary Positive + +g +g
Fig . 3.14 Arith m e tic o p e ra to rs.

Fig. 3.14 Arithmetic Operators.

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3.5 Arithmetic

• Rules of operator precedence

1. Operators in expressions contained within parentheses
2. Exponentiation
3. Unary positive and negative
4. Multiplication and floating-point division
5. Integer division
6. Modulus operations
7. Addition and subtraction operations

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3.5 Arithmetic

O p e ra to r(s) O p e ra tio n O rd e r o f e va lua tio n (p re c e d e nc e )

() Parentheses Evaluated first. If the parentheses are nested, the
expression in the innermost pair is evaluated first. If
there are several pairs of parentheses “on the same
level” (i.e., not nested), they are evaluated from left
to right.
^ Exponentiation Evaluated second. If there are several such operators,
they are evaluated from left to right.
+, – Sign operations Evaluated third. If there are several such operators,
they are evaluated from left to right.
*, / Multiplication and Evaluated fourth. If there are several such operators,
Division they are evaluated from left to right.
\ Integer Evaluated fifth. If there are several such operators,
division they are evaluated from left to right.

Mod Modulus Evaluated sixth. If there are several such operators,

they are evaluated from left to right.
+, – Addition and Evaluated last. If there are several such operators,
Subtraction they are evaluated from left to right.
Fig . 3.15 Pre c e d e n c e o f a rith m e tic o p e ra to rs.

Fig. 3.15 Precedence of arithmetic operators.

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3.5 Arithmetic

Step 1. y = 2 * 5 * 5 + 3 * 5 + 7
2 * 5 is 10 (Leftmost multiplication)

Step 2. y = 10 * 5 + 3 * 5 + 7
10 * 5 is 50 (Leftmost multiplication)

Step 3. y = 50 + 3 * 5 + 7
3 * 5 is 15 (Multiplication before addition)

Step 4. y = 50 + 15 + 7
50 + 15 is 65 (Leftmost addition)

Step 5. y = 65 + 7
65 + 7 is 72 (Last addition)

Step 6. y = 72 (Last operation—place 72 into y)

Fig. 3.16 Order in which a second-degree polynomial is evaluated.

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 30
3.6 Decision Making: Equality and Relational
Operators
• If/Then structure
– Allows a program to make decision based on the truth or
falsity of some expression
– Condition
• The expression in an If/Then structure
– If the condition is true, the statement in the body of the
structure executes
– Conditions can be formed by using
• Equality operators
• Relational operators

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 31
3.6 Decision Making: Equality and Relational
Operators
Sta nd a rd a lg e b ra ic Visua l Ba sic Exa m p le Me a n ing o f
e q ua lity o p e ra to r o r e q ua lity o f Visu a l Ba sic Visua l Ba sic c o nd itio n
re la tio na l o p e ra to r o r re la tio na l c o nd itio n
o p e ra to r
Equality
operators
= x = y
 x is equal to y

 <> x <> y x is not equal to y

Relational
operators
> > x > y x is greater than y
< < x < y x is less than y
>= x >= y x is greater than or equal to y
? <= x <= y x is less than or equal to y
Fig . 3.17 Eq u a lity a n d re la tio n a l o p e ra to rs.

Fig. 3.17 Equality and relational operators.

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1 ' Fig. 3.19: Comparison.vb Outline
2 ' Using equality and relational operators.
3
4 Module modComparison Variables of the same type may
5 be declared in one declaration Comparison.vb
6 Sub Main()
7
8 ' declare Integer variables for user input
9 Dim number1, number2 As Integer
10
11 The If/Then structure compares the values
' read first number from user
12 Console.Write("Please enter of number1
first and number2
integer: ") for equality
13 number1 = Console.ReadLine()
14
15 ' read second number from user
16 Console.Write("Please enter second integer: ")
17 number2 = Console.ReadLine()
18
19 If (number1 = number2) Then
20 Console.WriteLine("{0} = {1}", number1, number2)
21 End If
22
23 If (number1 <> number2) Then
24 Console.WriteLine("{0} <> {1}", number1, number2)
25 End If
26
27 If (number1 < number2) Then
28 Console.WriteLine("{0} < {1}", number1, number2)
29 End If
30
31 If (number1 > number2) Then
32 Console.WriteLine("{0} > {1}", number1, number2)
33 End If
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 33
34 Outline
35 If (number1 <= number2) Then
36 Console.WriteLine("{0} <= {1}", number1, number2)
37 End If
38 Comparison.vb
39 If (number1 >= number2) Then
40 Console.WriteLine("{0} >= {1}", number1, number2)
41 End If
42
43 End Sub ' Main
44
45 End Module ' modComparison

Please enter first integer: 1000

Please enter second integer: 2000
1000 <> 2000 Program Output
1000 < 2000
1000 <= 2000

Please enter first integer: 515

Please enter second integer: 49
515 <> 49
515 > 49
515 >= 49

Please enter first integer: 333

Please enter second integer: 333
333 = 333
333 <= 333
333 >= 333
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 34
3.6 Decision Making: Equality and Relational
Operators

O p e ra to rs Asso c ia tivity Typ e

() left to right parentheses
^ left to right exponentiation
* / left to right multiplicative
\ left to right integer division
Mod left to right modulus
+ - left to right additive
= <> < <= > >= left to right equality and relational
Fig . 3.19 Pre c e d e n c e a n d a sso c ia tivity o f o p e ra to rs in tro d u c e d in th is c h a p te r.

Fig. 3.19 Precedence and associativity of operators introduced in this chapter.

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 35

3.7 Using a Dialog to Display a Message

• Dialogs
– Windows that typically display messages to the user
– Visual Basic provides class MessageBox for creating
dialogs

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1 ' Fig. 3.20: SquareRoot.vb Outline
2 ' Displaying square root of 2 in dialog.
3
4 Imports System.Windows.Forms ' Namespace containing MessageBox
5 SquareRoot.vb
6 Module modSquareRoot
Sqrt method of the Math class is called
7 to compute the square root of 2
8 Sub Main() Method Show of class MessageBox
9
10 ' Calculate square root of 2
11 Dim root As Double = Math.Sqrt(2)
12
13 ' Display results in dialog
14 MessageBox.Show("The square root of 2 is " & root, _
15 "The Square Root of 2") The Double data type stores floating-
16 End Sub ' Main point numbers
17
18 End Module ' modThirdWelcome Line-continuation character

Program Output

Empty command
window

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 37

3.7 Using a Dialog to Display a Message

Title bar

Dialog sized to
accommodate Close box
contents.

OK button allows the

user to dismiss the Mouse pointer
dialog.

Fig. 3.21 Dialog displayed by calling MessageBox.Show.

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3.7 Using a Dialog to Display a Message

• Assembly
– File that contain many classes provided by Visual Basic
– These files have a .dll (or dynamic link library) extension.
– Example
• Class MessageBox is located in assembly
System.Windows.Forms.dll
• MSDN Documentation
– Information about the assembly that we need can be found in
the MSDN documentation
– Select Help > Index… to display the Index dialog

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 39

3.7 Using a Dialog to Display a Message

Search string

Filter
Link to MessageBox
documentation

Fig. 3.22 Obtaining documentation for a class by using the Index dialog.

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 40

3.7 Using a Dialog to Display a Message

Requirements MessageBox class

section heading documentation

Assembly containing
class MessageBox

Fig. 3.23 Documentation for the MessageBox class.

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3.7 Using a Dialog to Display a Message

• Reference
– It is necessary to add a reference to the assembly if you wish
to use its classes
– Example
• To use class MessageBox it is necessary to add a reference
to System.Windows.Forms
• Imports
– Forgetting to add an Imports statement for a referenced
assembly is a syntax error

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3.7 Using a Dialog to Display a Message

Solution Explorer before
reference is added

References folder Solution Explorer after

(expanded) reference is added

System.Windows.Forms
reference

Fig. 3.24 Adding a reference to an assembly in the Visual Studio .NET IDE.
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 43

3.7 Using a Dialog to Display a Message

Button (displaying an
Label icon) Menu (e.g., Help) Text box Menu bar

Fig. 3.25 Internet Explorer window with GUI components.

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